Uptake of thallium, a toxic heavy-metal, in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus R-2 (Anacystis nidulans, S. Leopoliensis) PCC 7942
Ritchie, R., J.; Larkum, A.W.D.
Plant and Cell Physiology 39(11): 1156-1168
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-0781 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a029316
Accession: 011616956
Uptake of the toxic heavy-metal, thallium, was studied in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus R-2 (PCC 7942) using clinically available 201Tl+. Thallium was found to distribute across the plasmalemma passively, and so the accumulation ratio of the ion ([Tl+l(i)/[Tl+]o) could be used to calculate the apparent membrane potential (delta psi i,o) of the cells ((E)Tl+i,o = delta psi i,o). The permeability of the plasmalemma to Tl+ ((P)Tl+ approximately 1 to 5 nm s-1) is higher than that of K+. Valinomycin does not increase the permeability of Tl+. Transient changes in the delta psi i,o of cells, because of electrogenic transport of ions, could be detected from its effects upon the uptake rate of Tl+. HCO3- hyperpolarized Synechococcus cells, whereas NH4+, CH3NH3+, and K+ led to depolarization. The use of Tl+ as a reporter of delta psi i,o has some inherent limitations. Tl+ is toxic at very low concentrations (inhibitory effects are apparent after about 6 h at concentrations as low as 1 mmol m-3). The rate of equilibration is slow (t1/2 approximately 5 to 20 min). Equilibration of Tl+ takes about 2 h, which limits its value as a membrane potential probe. Large amounts of Tl+ bind to the surface of the cells making the method impracticable for measuring accumulation ratios of less than about 10 (delta psi i,o values smaller than about -60 mV). Cultures continuously exposed to Tl+ (10 mmol m-3) eventually become Tl+ resistant by actively extruding Tl+ (delta micro Tl+i,o = -3 +/- 0.2 kJ mol-1) and so thallium cannot be used as a delta psi i,o probe in such cells.